Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-09-22
Helena, Montana. Thursday, September u, 1887

by monitor carr armed with brace OF
Wizard guns, on the near track of the rail-
road operated from city to 0utposts.
Coupled to a train which had steamed
from New Berne, it stood sentinel over the
string of fiat cars loading at the station
with wounded men and camp property,
the main defenses.
The hour of dawn neared- The power
of further resistance was about exhausted.
With day break would come fewer chances
of escape, should the enemy succeed in
forcing the passage of the creek. Finally
from post to post went the order to retire.
1t was answered none too soon.
With the lifting fog Of early morning
an extended battle line of Confederates
was disclosed on the rear flank west of the
Neuse road, moving to encompass the cross
ing. But the bridge heroes, who had
fought so long and bravely, and other de-
tachments imminently endangered, were
missing. They cleverly eluded the flank
ing maneuver and in orderly march fell
back upon the camp.
Part of the Union reinforcements, now
closely at hand, were less fortunate.
They were surrounded and made prisoners,
including Lieut.. Col. Fellows and a detach-
ment of his regiment, the 18th Mass. For
this accident, as also the loss on the Wash
ington road of battery pieces and de-
tacbment of the 18th n. Y. afterward, an
officers indulgence was responsible. He
failed to execute as communicated the COM
mands of his superior.
Excepting small number of men iso-
lated by interposing bodies of the enemy,
the outpost command was successfully ex-
tricated from the snare set to entrap it..
The train, held to the last moment of
safety, was spatched-freighted with
wounded and stores and effects of the out
posts. The run to the protection of the
main defenses was not molested except at a
mishers exchanging shots with the monitor
guns.
Reluctantly the regiments face was
turned toward New Berne, and the COM
mand speedily disappeared in the mazes of
the surrounding forest. Devious trails
were pursued and Obstructed forest paths
followed to gain the one remaining high
way left uncovered by the Confederates.
The open country finally reached, the glad
sight of the city broke upon the view from
the direction of the Trent road. Down this
road detachments of the 18th n. Y. cavalry
picketing the extreme left of the outpost
line, had retired in safety.
Well nigh exhausted by the long hours
of fighting and marching, the 132d veter
ans passed behind the entertainments
greeted by tossing caps and an ovation of
cheers from the garrison.
The Confederates, foiled in their expected
instant break through the outpost lines,
tailed completely in the accomplishment of
their chief design-the surprise and cap
of New Berne The investment Of the city
ended abruptly and without glory. With
ample time for preparation the garrison
was in full readiness to repel attack, which
prudently was not attempted.
The soldiers whom Pickett had deemed
irvincible; who had never wavered in the
battle lines of the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia; who had moved with unflinchiDg
step to the charge and stormed with des-
perate courage the heights of Gettysburg
these unbeat en- veterans of battles many
and bloody were held at bay for hours by
a mere handful of troops assailed with
fierceness, without warning, at the dead
hour of night, in the woods of North Caro-
lima.
Cheated of the great prize they had
planned so craftily and come so far to
possess, the disheartened Butternuts had
no other choice than to turn and retrace
their steps, Their losses exceeded the
casualties they had inflicted. Their few
prisoners were the victims of nights ac-
cidents.
For his glorious defense, for the splendid
conduct of his command, Col. Claassen de-
served more than the congratulations
which in general orders he got. A greater
compliment was paid commander and regi-
ment by Gen. Pickett, who reporting to the
Richmond authorities, said:
"7he enemy encountered an force at Batch
eler's Creek, disputed our adrance upon NeO
Berne for fire hours"
Gen. Pickett was solely opposed by the
132nd infantry. The first assaults-three
in quick succession-were repulsed by
Lieut. Abram P. Haring and eleven en-
listed men. They were as brave, as grand
soldiers as ever wore the blue and staid
with their country's flag. Before the bridge
fell more than 300 of Pickett's men, among
them COL Shaw and Maj. Rhett, who
sacrificed their lives in leading their regi-
ments to the charge.
The casualties of the outpost defenders
numbered eighty-seven officers and men,
including Lieut. Arnold Zenette killed, and
Lieuts. VIM. A. C. Ryan and Joseph Gear
ing desperately wounded. Lieut.. Ryan
was the gallant officer who led against the
tree-choppers. He surrendered his life in
after years to the patriotic cause of Cuba.